Flow cytometer remote monitoring system

ABSTRACT

Generally, a computer implemented remote monitoring system which generates a viewable reduced byte data representation for each one of a plurality of analyzed instrument signals. Specifically, a flow cytometer remote monitoring system which generates a viewable reduced byte data representation for each one of a plurality analyzed flow cytometer signals.

This application is the United States National Stage of InternationalPatent Cooperation Treaty Application No. PCT/US2009/002715, filed May1, 2009, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Non-Provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 12/151,156, filed May 2, 2008, each herebyincorporated by reference herein.

I. TECHNICAL FIELD

Generally, a computer implemented remote monitoring system whichgenerates a viewable reduced byte data representation for each one of aplurality of analyzed instrument signals. Specifically, a flow cytometerremote monitoring system which generates a viewable reduced byte datarepresentation for each one of a plurality analyzed flow cytometersignals.

II. BACKGROUND

Flow cytometry systems can be utilized to analyze at least one of aplurality of particles. The plurality of particles is typically apopulation of biological particles such as sperm cells, stem cells,blood cells, bacteria, or the like. The analysis of a population ofparticles can occur at analysis rates of between about 10,000 particlesper second and about 200,000 particles per second depending on the ofthe population of particles and the manner of analysis. The analysis ofindividual particles in a population can provide information relating tothe presence or absence or the amount of one or more particlecharacteristics. The relative presence or absence or the amount of oneor more particle characteristics may be used to as the basis on which todifferentiate individual particles of an analyzed population into two ormore discrete subpopulations of particles. The discreet subpopulationsof particles can then be separated from the main population of particlesand isolated as discrete subpopulations of particles as furtherdescribed herein.

The operator of the flow cytometer device relies on the use of aviewable data representation to make decisions about the operation ofthe flow cytometer device. Since the flow cytometer device can beanalyzing many hundreds of millions of particles per hour and may befurther sorting many millions of cells per hour, the viewable datarepresentation may be designed to show the flow cytometer operator acontinuously updated viewable data representation. The continuouslyupdated viewable data representation may include analysis data of afraction of the population of particles analyzed along with operatingparameters for the flow cytometer device updated in discrete analysisintervals. For example, the viewable data representation may be updatedevery 100 milliseconds, in the form of histograms of the most recent 10seconds of particle analysis data.

The flow cytometer operator relies on the viewable data representationto both manage and control procedures and parameters for particleanalysis and sorting but to also to control the hardware configurationof the flow cytometer device with regard to three dimensionalpositioning of components such as the fluidic nozzle, beam shapingoptics and optical focus for detection, and the like. The flow cytometeroperator may also control the rate of droplet formation, the amplitudeof the energy used in droplet formation and the voltage applied todroplet streams without use of the viewable data representation;although these types of adjustments can change the scale and precisionof measurements being made in analysis of the population of particlesand result in changes to the viewable data representation displayed tothe flow cytometer operator. Accordingly, the viewable datarepresentation provides a source of real time information utilized bythe flow cytometer operator to adjust particle analysis and flowcytometer device parameters.

The viewable data representation generated during operation of the flowcytometer device can be generated in an image format selected by theflow cytometer operator which can be configured by selection ofparticular data masks and data sets which populate such data masks whichare typically provided as histograms. Although the analysis datagenerated by a flow cytometer device may be collected and stored in amemory element of the flow cytometer device as raw data files, theoperation of a flow cytometer device to assess over a duration of timethe operating condition, adjust analysis and hardware parameters tooptimize the operating condition, or trouble shoot the operatingcondition for software or hardware problems may require access to asubstantial portion or all of the history and detail of the viewabledata representation. However, use of a substantial portion of thehistory and detail the viewable data representation during operation ofa flow cytometer device, or other similar analysis device, can presentcertain problems.

One substantial problem with using a substantial portion of the historyand detail of viewable data representation may be competition forcomputer processing capacity of the flow cytometer device (or otherdevices which provide similar viewable data representations) resultingin a delay updating display of the viewable data representation which incertain instances can appear as interrupted or non-continuous display ofthe viewable data representation. In certain instances depending on theflow cytometer device, attempts to access and utilize stored viewabledata representations or attempts to control the functionalities of theflow cytometer device remotely can interfere with the normal operationand particle analysis of the flow cytometer device.

Another substantial problem may be that the viewable data representationis stored in files that subtend some user defined amount of detail inscreens per second and in seconds per file. These file management anddata storage requirements can overload the computer processing unit(“CPU”), read only memory (“RAM”), and the local memory storage capacityof individual flow cytometer devices, especially when such flowcytometer devices are equipped with versions of CPU, RAM, operatingsystems (“OS”), and other programs that were not designed to operate atspeeds required for use of large file sizes associated with viewabledata representations in form of images, video, histograms, or similartechnology of electronically capturing, recording, processing, storing,transmitting, and reconstructing a sequence of still images.

Another substantial problem may be that viewable data representations inthe form of image files and video files, or the like, may be to large tobe utilized in the lesser bandwidths of local area networks (“LAN”) orvirtual private networks (“VPN”) to effectively transmit to computersoutside of the LAN.

Another substantial problem may be that the effort, time, and cost ofproviding sufficient storage space in memory for all historical viewabledata representation at a level of resolution sufficient to be usefulupon retrieval is too great when compared to the value of the viewabledata representation stored.

Another substantial problem may be that conventional methods to capture,recording, processing, storing, transmitting, or reconstruct images toprovide conventional viewable data representations are not scalable. Forexample, while conventional methods of providing a viewable datarepresentation may be practical in regard to one flow cytometer device,it may not be possible or practical in the context of providing aviewable data representation for a plurality of flow cytometer devicessuch as 50 or 100 flow cytometer devices (or even a greater number ofdevices) at a single location or in a LAN environment, or in adistributed network of flow cytometer devices, or a plurality ofdistributed LAN environments connected in a wide area network (“WAN”)environment.

III. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Accordingly, a broad object of the invention can be to provide aninventive computer implemented data management system to electronicallycapture, record, process, store, transmit, or reconstruct a sequence ofstill images generated by the operation of a device.

A second broad object of the invention can be to provide a device whichincludes the inventive data management system to electronically capture,record, process, store, transmit, or reconstruct a sequence of stillimages in the form of a viewable reduced byte data representation.

A third broad object of the invention can be to provide a flow cytometerdevice which includes the inventive data management system toelectronically capture, record, process, store, transmit, or reconstructa sequence of still images generated during operation in the form of aviewable reduced byte data representation.

A fourth broad object of the invention can be to provide a method ofusing the computer implemented data management system to electronicallycapture, record, process, store, transmit, or reconstruct a sequence ofstill images generated by the operation of a device to monitor one ormore devices from a remote location.

A fifth broad object of the invention can be to provide method ofproducing a device which includes the computer implemented datamanagement system to electronically capture, record, process, store,transmit, or reconstruct a sequence of still images generated by theoperation of a device to monitor one or more devices from a remotelocation.

A sixth broad object of the invention can be to provide a method ofremote monitoring of each of a plurality of viewable datarepresentations generated by a corresponding plurality of flowcytometers coupled in one or more LAN environments.

Naturally, further objects of the invention are disclosed throughoutother areas of the specification, drawings, photographs, and claims.

IV. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of hardware means and network means of aparticular embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of hardware means and network means of anotherparticular embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a particular device for the analysis andsorting of a plurality of particles.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of hardware means which can be utilized in aparticular embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is block diagram of hardware means which can be utilized in aparticular embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is block diagram of hardware means which can be utilized in aparticular embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram which shows a particular method of archivingreduced byte data representations generated by a particular embodimentof the invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of a viewable data representation generated by aparticular embodiment of the invention which includes a flow cytometer.

FIG. 9 is a diagram of a plurality of viewable reduced byte datarepresentations generated by a particular embodiment of the inventionremotely monitoring a plurality of flow cytometers.

V. MODE(S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Generally, computer implemented remote monitoring system which generatesa viewable reduced byte data representation for each one of a pluralityof analyzed instrument signals. Specifically, a flow cytometer remotemonitoring system which generates a viewable reduced byte datarepresentation for each one of a plurality analyzed flow cytometersignals.

Referring generally to FIGS. 1-9, the inventive instrument or flowcytometer remote monitoring system (1) may be described herein in termsof functional block components, screen shots, and various process steps.It should be appreciated that such functional blocks may be realized byany number of hardware or software components configured to perform thespecified functions. For example, the inventive flow cytometer remotemonitoring system (1) may employ various integrated circuit componentswhich function without limitation as memory elements, processingelements, logic elements, look-up tables, or the like, which may carryout a variety of functions under the control of one or moremicroprocessors or other control devices.

Similarly, the software elements of the present invention may beimplemented with any programming or scripting language such as C, C++,Java, COBOL, PERL, Labview, or any graphical user interface programminglanguage, extensible markup language (XML), Microsoft's Visual Studio.NET, Visual Basic, or the like, with the various algorithms or BooleanLogic being implemented with any combination of data structures,objects, processes, routines or other programming elements. Further, itshould be noted that the present invention might employ any number ofconventional wired or wireless techniques for data transmission,signaling, data processing, network control, and the like.

It should be appreciated that the particular implementations shown anddescribed herein are illustrative of the invention and its best mode andare not intended to otherwise limit the scope of the present inventionin any way. Indeed, for the sake of brevity, conventional datanetworking, application development and other functional aspects of thesystems (and components of the individual operating components of thesystems) may not be described in detail herein. Furthermore, theconnecting lines shown in the various Figures contained herein areintended to represent exemplary functional relationships or physicalcouplings between the various elements. It should be noted that manyalternative or additional functional relationships or physicalconnections may be present in various embodiments of the inventive flowcytometer remote monitoring system (1).

As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, the presentinvention may be embodied as a method of data processing, a dataprocessing system, a device for data processing, a computer programproduct, or the like. Accordingly, the present invention may take theform of an entirely software embodiment, an entirely hardwareembodiment, or an embodiment combining aspects of both software andhardware. Furthermore, the present invention may take the form of acomputer program product on a computer-readable storage medium havingcomputer-readable program code means embodied in the storage medium. Anysuitable computer-readable storage medium may be utilized, includinghard disks, CD-ROM, optical storage devices, magnetic storage devices,ROM, flash RAM, or the like.

The present invention may be described herein with reference to screenshots, block diagrams and flowchart illustrations of the flow cytometerremote monitoring system (1) to describe computer programs,applications, or modules which can be utilized separately or incombination in accordance with various aspects or embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each functional block of the blockdiagrams and the flowchart illustrations, and combinations of functionalblocks in the block diagrams and flowchart illustrations, respectively,can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computerprogram instructions may be loaded onto a general purpose computer,special purpose computer or other programmable data processing apparatusto produce a machine, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer or other programmable data processing apparatus implement thefunctions specified in the flowchart block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in acomputer-readable memory that can direct a computer or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readablememory produce an article of manufacture including instruction meanswhich implement the function specified in the flowchart block or blocks.The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer orother programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series ofoperational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmableapparatus to produce a computer-implemented process such that theinstructions which execute on the computer or other programmableapparatus provide steps for implementing the functions specified in theflowchart block or blocks.

Accordingly, functional blocks of the block diagrams and flowchartillustrations support combinations of means for performing the specifiedfunctions, combinations of steps for performing the specified functions,and program instruction means for performing the specified functions. Itwill also be understood that each functional block of the block diagramsand flowchart illustrations, and combinations of functional blocks inthe block diagrams and flowchart illustrations, can be implemented byeither special purpose hardware based computer systems which perform thespecified functions or steps, or suitable combinations of specialpurpose hardware and computer instructions.

Furthermore, while embodiments of the inventive flow cytometer remotemonitoring system (1) may be described in the context of monitoring aflow cytometer (2), the invention is not so limited, and the datamanagement functionalities and image management functionalities ofinventive flow cytometer remote monitoring system (1) can be utilized inthe context of monitoring a numerous and wide variety of instrumentsincluding but not limited to chromatographs, spectrophotometers,computed topographs, computed tomographs, or the like. The term “flowcytometer” for the purposes of the embodiments of the inventiondescribed herein generally means any device configured to count,examine, or sort microscopic particles suspended in a stream of fluidsuch counting, examination or sorting can be based upon single ormultiple parametric analysis of the physical or chemical characteristicsof single cells flowing through an optical or electronic detectionapparatus. A flow cytometer (2) can as non-limiting examples beconfigured to provide a single stream of fluid in which particles areentrained for analysis or a plurality of streams of fluid each stream offluid entraining particles for analysis with particles in each suchfluid stream interrogated by one or more laser beams each of which canbe emitted by a corresponding one laser device or can be produced bysplitting a single laser beam into a plurality of laser beams forinterrogation of one fluid stream or a plurality of fluid streams. Thesignal generated by the optical or electronic detection apparatus foreach stream can be processed as single channel of data or multiplechannels of data at independent rates using one or a plurality ofprocessors in parallel. A non-limiting example of a flow cytometer (2)device suitable for use in embodiments of the inventive flow cytometerremote monitoring system (1) can be a MOFLO® SX or MOFLO® SX XDP flowcytometer available from Dako Colo., Inc. or can be flow cytometersavailable from Icyte, Becton Dickinson, Cytopeia, Partec, or the like;the invention is not so limited. Certain flow cytometer (2) devices canbe utilized for FACS flow cytometry for sorting of heterogeneousmixtures of particles; however, the invention is not limited to theutilization of any particular type or kind of a flow cytometer (2)device.

For the purposes of the present invention, ranges may be expressedherein as from “about” one particular value to “about” anotherparticular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodimentincludes from the one particular value to the other particular value.Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of theantecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular valueforms another embodiment. It will be further understood that theendpoints of each of the ranges are significant both in relation to theother endpoint, and independently of the other endpoint.

Moreover, for the purposes of the present invention, the term “a” or“an” entity refers to one or more of that entity; for example, “aviewable data representation” refers to one or more of those viewabledata representations. As such, the terms “a” or “an”, “one or more” and“at least one” can be used interchangeably herein. Furthermore, the term“selected from the group consisting of” refers to one or more ofelements in the list that follows, including combinations of two or moreof the elements.

First referring primarily to FIG. 1, a block diagram provides a generaloverview of elements (each element further described below) which can beused to implement a particular non-limiting embodiment of the inventiveflow cytometer remote monitoring system (1). A first computer user (25)can through use of a command input device (23) such as keystroke of acomputer keyboard or a mouse send commands to the processing unit (17)of a first computer (16) to deliver computer operating instructions to aflow cytometer (2) (or other type of computer controlled device orinstrument). The flow cytometer (2) can generate a signal (3) whichvaries based upon the amount of at least one particle characteristic (4)of a plurality of particles (5). The signal (3) can be analyzed by thefirst computer (16) which can further function to generate a viewabledata representation (28) of the analyzed signal which can be viewed bythe first computer user (25) on a first computer monitor (26).

For the purposes of this invention the term “viewable datarepresentation” means an intermittently updated graphical display ofdata generated by a device viewable by a computer user (25), including,as non-limiting examples, chromatograms, computed tomographies,histograms or the like. As a specific non-limiting example, see FIG. 8which shows a viewable data representation (28) generated having theform of a histogram (29) showing the separation of a plurality of spermcells (9) into X chromosome bearing sperm cells (14) and Y chromosomebearing sperm cells (15).

The first computer user (25) can view the viewable data representation(28) to understand the functional condition of the flow cytometer (2)(or other device or instrument). The first computer (16) can furtherfunction to generate a plurality of time bound data representation files(35) of the viewable data representation (28) which can be temporarilystored in a memory element (18) of the first computer (16).

A second computer (37) can provide an image processor (38) whichfunctions to convert the temporary copies of the plurality of time bounddata representation files (35) into a first plurality of reduced bytedata representation files (39) and a second plurality of reduced bytedata representation files (40) retrievably stored in the second computermemory element (41). The second computer (37) as part of a LAN (50) canupon request serve all or part of the first plurality of reduced bytedata representation files (39) or the second plurality of reduced bytedata representation files (40) to a third computer (42) over a WAN (52).

Now referring specifically to FIG. 2, which provides a particularexample of the general hardware means and network means of the secondcomputer (37) including a LAN file server (78) dedicated to provide thefunctions of converting the temporary copies of the plurality of timebound data representation files (35) into a first plurality of reducedbyte data representation files (39) and a second plurality of reducedbyte data representation files (40) retrievably stored in the secondcomputer memory element (41) for a flow cytometer or a plurality of flowcytometers in a LAN environment. The embodiment can further provide asecond local file server (79) which supports other processing functionsin the LAN environment. The embodiment can further provide a WAN fileserver (80) which further supports the functions of the a LAN fileserver (78) of converting the temporary copies of the plurality of timebound data representation files (35) into a first plurality of reducedbyte data representation files (39) and a second plurality of reducedbyte data representation files (40) retrievably stored in the secondcomputer memory element (41) for a flow cytometer or a plurality of flowcytometers in the LAN environment.

Again referring primarily to FIG. 1, a third computer user (81)operating the third computer (42) can generate a request to receive allor part of the first plurality of reduced byte data representation files(39) or the second plurality of reduced byte data representation files(40) retrievably stored in the second computer memory element (41) ofany one of a plurality of LANs (50). The files can be transferred fromthe second computer (37) utilizing a WAN communications device (56) overWAN logical connections (55). An image generator (45) provided by thethird computer (42) can generate a viewable reduced byte datarepresentation (46) of all or part of the first plurality of reducedbyte data representation files (39) or the second plurality of reducedbyte data representation files (40) transferred from the second computer(37) which can be displayed on a third computer monitor (49) (forexample see FIG. 9 which shows the viewable reduced byte datarepresentation (46) generated from a corresponding two of the pluralityof reduced byte data representation files (39) or the second pluralityof reduced byte data representation files (40) retrievably stored in thesecond computer memory element (41) of any one or more of a plurality ofLANs (50)) in the form of a histogram showing the separation of spermcells into X chromosome bearing and Y chromosome bearing populations).

Now referring primarily to FIGS. 1 and 3, certain embodiments of theinventive flow cytometer remote monitoring system (1) can in partinclude a flow cytometer (2). The flow cytometer (2) can function toproduce a signal (3) (whether analog, analog converted to digital, ordigital) which varies whether in frequency, amplitude, or both frequencyand amplitude) based upon change in at least one particle characteristic(4) among a plurality of particles (5). The plurality of particles (5)can be biological particles such as cells, sperm cells, organelles,chromosomes, deoxyribonucleic acids (DNA), ribonucleic acids (RNA), DNAfragments, RNA fragments, proteins, protein fragments, peptides,oligonucleotides, or the like, but can also include non-biologicalparticles such as beads, styrene beads, or the like, or as mixtures ofbiological particles, mixtures of non-biological particles, or mixturesof biological and non-biological particles. The term “at least oneparticle characteristic” for the purposes of this invention means atleast one part, component, or differentially modified part or componentcommon to at least a portion of the plurality of particles (5) entrainedin the fluid stream (6) which varies in kind or amount between theplurality of particles (5).

As one non-limiting example, the plurality of particles (5) can be aplurality of sperm cells (9) and the at least one particlecharacteristic (4) can be the amount of deoxyribonucleic acid (“DNA”)(10) contained in each of the plurality of sperm cells (9). The amountof DNA (10) can vary based upon whether the particular one of theplurality of sperm cells (9) contains an X chromosome or a Y chromosome.The X chromosome contains a greater amount of DNA (10) than thecorresponding Y chromosome regardless of the male mammal from which theplurality of sperm cells (9) is obtained. Sperm cells (9) can beobtained from any male mammal including for example, a bovid, an ovis,an equid, a pig, a cervid, a canid, a felid, a rodent, a whale, arabbit, an elephant, a rhinoceros, a primate, or the like, as well asfrom certain male non-mammal species.

Certain kinds of flow cytometer (2) devices operate to entrain each ofthe plurality of particles (5) in a fluid stream (6) which exits anozzle (7) oscillated to produce droplets (8) in the fluid stream (6).Prior to the break off point for each of the droplets (8) each of theplurality of particles (5) in the fluid stream (6) passes through aninterrogation means (11) to generate interrogation event rates ofbetween about 10,000 per second and about 200,000 per second. Typically,the interrogation means (11) includes one or more laser beams (12)through which each of the plurality of particles (5) fall. Eachinterrogated one of the plurality of particles (5) can in response tointerrogation by the laser beam(s) absorb or emit an amount of light(12A). For example, DNA can be quantitatively stained with a dye orfluorochrome such as Hoechst 33342. The stained DNA can emit an amountof light (12) in response to being interrogated with a laser beam. Xchromosome bearing sperm cells (14) typically emit a greater amount oflight (12A) than Y chromosome bearing sperm cells (15) because each Xchromosome bearing sperm cell (14) contains a greater amount of stainedDNA than a Y chromosome bearing sperm cell (15).

The amount of light (12A) emitted from the interrogated one of theplurality of particles (5) can be received by a photomultiplier element(13). The photomultiplier element (13) converts the received amount ofemitted light (12A) into a signal (3) which correspondingly varies basedupon change in the amount of emitted light (12A). In the analysis of aplurality of sperm cells (9) with a flow cytometer (2), the signal (3)generated can vary based upon the difference in the amount of light (12)generated by X chromosome bearing sperm cells (14) and Y chromosomebearing sperm cells (15) when passed through the interrogation means(11).

Now referring primarily to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the flow cytometer (2) (orother instrument) can be coupled to, integral with, or provide a firstcomputer (16) having a processing unit (17), a memory element (18), anda bus (19) which operably couples components of the first computer (16),including, without limitation the memory element (18) to the processingunit (17). The first computer (16) may be a conventional computer, adistributed computer, or any other type of computer capable ofdelivering instructions to a flow cytometer controller (or otherinstrument controller) which functions to operate the flow cytometer (orother instrument); the invention is not so limited. The processing unit(17) can comprise without limitation one central-processing unit (CPU),or a plurality of processing units which operate in parallel to processdigital information, or a digital signal processor (DSP) plus a hostprocessor, or the like. The bus (19) can be without limitation any ofseveral types of bus configurations such as a memory bus or memorycontroller, a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety ofbus architectures.

The memory element (18) can without limitation be a read only memory(ROM), or a random access memory (RAM), or both. A basic input/outputsystem (BIOS)(20), containing routines that assist transfer of databetween the components of the first computer (16), for example duringstart-up, can be stored in ROM. The first computer (16) can furtherinclude a hard disk drive for reading from and writing to a hard disk amagnetic disk drive for reading from or writing to a removable magneticdisk, an optical disk drive for reading from or writing to a removableoptical disk such as a CD ROM, or other optical media.

The hard disk drive, magnetic disk drive, and optical disk drive can beconnected to the bus (19) by a hard disk drive interface, a magneticdisk drive interface, and an optical disk drive interface, respectively.The drives and their associated computer-readable media providenonvolatile storage of computer-readable instructions, data structures,program modules and other data of the first computer (16). It can beappreciated by those skilled in the art that any type ofcomputer-readable media that can store data that is accessible by thefirst computer (16), such as magnetic cassettes, flash memory cards,digital video disks, Bernoulli cartridges, random access memories(RAMs), read only memories (ROMs), and the like, may be provided by afirst computer (16) used in embodiments of the inventive flow cytometerremote monitoring system (1).

The first computer (16) can further include an operating system (21) anda flow cytometer controller and particle analysis application (22) whichmay be stored on or in the hard disk, magnetic disk, optical disk, ROM,in RAM by a particular embodiment of a first computer (16) oralternately the functionalities of the a flow cytometer controller andparticle analysis application (22) may be implemented as an applicationspecific integrated chip (ASIC) or file programmable gate array (FPGA),or the like, or combinations or permutations thereof.

A first computer user (25) can enter commands and information into thefirst computer (16) through one or more command input device(s) (23)such as a keyboard and pointing device such as a mouse. Other commandinput devices (23) can include a microphone, joystick, game pad,scanner, or the like. These and other command input device(s) (23) areoften connected to the processing unit (17) through a serial portinterface (24) that can be coupled to the bus (19), but may be connectedby other interfaces, such as a parallel port, game port, or a universalserial bus (USB). A monitor (26) or other type of display device canalso be connected to the bus (19) via interfaces such as a video adapter(58), or the like. In addition to the monitor (24), the first computer(16) can further include other peripheral output devices (59), such asspeakers and printers.

A click event occurs when the first computer user (25) (or othercomputer user) activates or operates at least one function of the flowcytometer controller and particle analysis application (22), or otherprogram or other application function, through the use of a commandwhich for example can include pressing or releasing the left mousebutton while a pointer is located over a control icon displayed on themonitor (26). However, it is not intended that a “click event” belimited to the press and release of the left button on a mouse while apointer is located over a control icon. Rather, the term “click event”for the purposes of this invention broadly encompasses any manner ofcommand by the first computer user (25) through which a function of theoperating system (21) or the flow cytometer controller and particleanalysis application (22) is activated or performed, whether throughclickable selection of one or a plurality of control icon(s), voicecommand, keyboard stroke(s), mouse button, touch screen, touch pad, orotherwise.

Again referring primarily to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the first computer (16)and the flow cytometer controller and particle analysis application (22)can in part function to provide a signal analyzer (27) whichintermittently or continuously converts the signal (3) produced by theflow cytometer (2) into a viewable data representation (28) of change inthe at least one particle characteristic (4) of the plurality ofparticles (5) analyzed. The viewable data representation (28) can becontinuously or intermittently displayed on the monitor (26) or updatedupon elapse of a short interval of time such as 100 milliseconds. As anon-limiting example, the signal analyzer (27) coupled to a flowcytometer (2) which interrogates a plurality of sperm cells (9) in acorresponding plurality of droplets (8) can generate a viewable datarepresentation (28) in the form of a histogram (29) which varies basedon a frequency of Y chromosome bearing sperm cells (14) or a frequencyof X chromosome bearing sperm cells (15) identified within the pluralityof sperm cells (9). Certain embodiments of the signal analyzer (27) canfurther function to establish parameters and timed events by which theplurality of particles (5) can be separated, parsed or divided basedupon the presence, absence, or amount of the at least one particlecharacteristic (4).

As a non-limiting example, a flow cytometer (2) such as a MOFLO® SX canused to separate or sort the plurality of particles (5) into, discreetsub-populations based upon at least one particle characteristic (4).Subsequent to exiting the nozzle (7), the fluid stream (6) can breakinto droplets (8) each of which can contain a corresponding one each ofthe plurality of particles (5). Based on the above-described analysis ofeach of the plurality of particles (5) in the fluid stream (6), thedroplets can be differentiated based on at least one particlecharacteristic (4) and separated by applying a charge (whether positiveor negative) to each one of the droplets (8) analyzed and thendeflecting the trajectory of each of the droplets (8) by passing thedroplets (8) through a pair of charged plates (31). The trajectory ofthe positively charged droplets can be altered for delivery to a firstcontainer (32) and the trajectory of the negatively charged droplets canbe altered for delivery to a second container (33). Uncharged dropletsare not deflected and can be delivered to a third container (34) or to awaste stream. With respect to the separation of a plurality of spermcells (10), a plurality of particle populations (30) can include Xchromosome bearing sperm cells (14) isolated in the first container (32)and Y chromosome bearing sperm cells (15) isolated in the secondcontainer (33).

Again referring primarily to FIG. 4, the first computer (16) can furtherprovide an image representation generator (34) which can generate one ora plurality of time bound data representation files (35) of the viewabledata representation (28) of change in at least one particlecharacteristic (4) of the plurality of analyzed particles (5) withoutgenerating an amount of lag in displaying the viewable datarepresentation (28) or in the operation of functionalities of the flowcytometer (2). The term “lag” for the purposes of this invention means areduction in performance or a delay in the generation of the viewabledata representation (28) or a delay in a function of the flow cytometer(or other instrument) due to competition by various portions of theoperating system (21) or the flow cytometer controller and particleanalysis application (22) or other program or application for support bythe a processing unit (17).

Typically, the plurality of time bound data representation files (35) ofthe viewable data representation (28) will include a plurality of bitmap image representations (36) or screen shots of the viewable datarepresentation (28) of change in at least one particle characteristic(4) of the plurality of analyzed particles (5) intermittently generatedat a pre-determine rate. The pre-determined rate at which each of theplurality of time bound data representation files (35) can be generatedwill typically be variably adjustable between about 0.1 seconds andabout 5 seconds, although other lesser or greater pre-determined ratescan be selected so long as the rate does not generate a lag in analyzingthe signal (3) generated by the flow cytometer (2) or the function ofthe flow cytometer (2). The time bound data representation files (35)can be stored temporarily in the memory element (18) of the firstcomputer (16). Typically, each of the plurality of time bound datarepresentation files (35) (generally as a plurality of bit maprepresentations (36)) comprise a file of between about three megabytesand about six megabytes, although the invention is not so limited andeach file can include a lesser or greater number of bytes.

Certain embodiments of the first computer (16) provided with a flowcytometer (2) (or other analysis device) may not provide thefunctionalities required to capture or generate the plurality of timebound data representation files (35) above-described. In that case atime bound data representation file generator (22A) in the form of asmall software application can stored in the memory element (18) and canfunction to periodically capture the viewable data representation (28)as above-described to provide the time bound data representation files(35) which can be transferred to the second computer (37).

Now referring primarily to FIG. 5, the inventive flow cytometer remotemonitoring system (1) can further include a second computer (37) linkedto the first computer (16). The second computer (37) can provide thesame or similar hardware means and software means as the first computer(16) although only a memory element (41) is shown along with sufficienthardware means and software means which function to provide an imageprocessor (38). The image processor (38) can function to generate afirst plurality of reduced byte data representation files (39) whichcorrespond to each of the plurality of time bound data representationfiles (35) served from the first computer (16) upon request by thesecond computer (37). For the purposes of this invention the term “areduced byte data representation files” (39) comprises an image file ofa lesser bytes than the corresponding time bound data representationfile. Typically, each of the plurality of reduced byte datarepresentation files will comprise between about one hundred kilobytesand about two hundred kilobytes (although the invention is not solimited and each file can include a lesser or greater number of bytes).As one example the reduced byte data representation file (39) can be inthe form of a .jpeg. which includes substantially lesser bytes than forexample a Windows Bitmap format which can be one form of the pluralityof time bound image representation files (35) transferred from the firstcomputer (16) to the second computer (37).

The image processor (38) can further function to generate a secondplurality of reduced byte data representation files (40) of theplurality of time bound data representation files (35) served from thefirst computer (16) upon request by the second computer (37) each onehaving fewer bytes than the corresponding one of said first plurality ofreduced byte data representation files (39). The second plurality ofreduced byte data representation files (40) each one having fewer bytesthan the corresponding one of the first plurality of reduced byte datarepresentation files (39) can each provide as one non-limiting examplean image file of between about two kilobytes and about four kilobytes(although the invention is not so limited and each file can include alesser or greater number of bytes). Again, as one example the image filecan be in the form of a .jpeg.

The first plurality of reduced byte data representation files (39) andthe second plurality of reduced byte data representation files (40) canbe generated in parallel from the corresponding plurality of time bounddata representation files (35) or the second plurality of reduced bytedata representation files (40) can be produced from the correspondingplurality of first plurality of reduced byte data representation files(39). Each of the first plurality of reduced byte data representationfiles (39) and the second plurality of reduced byte data representationfiles (40) can be retrievably stored in the second computer memoryelement (41) of the second computer (37).

Now referring primarily to FIG. 8, the viewable data representation (28)generated by the flow cytometer particle analysis application (22) ofthe flow cytometer (2) (or other particle analysis application ofanother type of device) can further include viewable parametric dataelements (82) of numeric data type. As a non-limiting example, in thecontext of a viewable data representation (28) generated by anembodiment of the flow cytometer particle analysis application (22) fora flow cytometer (2), the viewable parametric data elements (82) caninclude one or more of sample number, operator identification number,date, drop delay status, temperature status, humidity status, laserpower status, network status, particle analysis start time, particleanalysis stop time, time elapsed, event rate, total events, particlecount, percent particles collected, percent particles aborted, percentparticles coincident, or the like. In the context, in which theplurality of particles (5) analyzed are a plurality of sperm cells (9),the viewable parametric data elements (82) can further include currentpercent live, average percent live, current percent dead, averagepercent dead, current percent purity, average percent purity, percentcompare sorter peer, percent, percent compare bull peer, or the like.The viewable parametric data elements (82) included in the viewable datarepresentation (28) can be converted by the image processor (38) as partof the viewable data representation (28) into a part of a correspondingone of the plurality of time bound data representation files (35) asabove described and then converted to a corresponding one of the firstplurality of reduced byte data representation files (39) and the secondplurality of reduced byte data representation files (40), as abovedescribed.

Now referring to FIG. 6, the inventive flow cytometer remote monitoringsystem (1) can further include a third computer (42). The third computer(42) can provide the same or similar hardware means and software meansas the first computer (16) or sufficient hardware means and softwaremeans to function to provide a reduced byte data representation fileselection element (43) which can function to generate a request for aselected portion of the first plurality of reduced byte datarepresentation files (39) or a selected portion of the second pluralityof reduced byte data representation files (40) to the second computer(37) (the term selected portion can include one or all of the first orsecond plurality of reduced byte data representation files (39)(40)).The selected portion of the first plurality of reduced byte datarepresentation files (39) or a selected portion of the second pluralityof reduced byte data representation files (40) can be stored in a thirdcomputer memory element (44). The third computer (42) can furtherprovide an image generator (45) which functions to display the selectedportion of the first plurality of reduced by data representation files(39) or the second plurality of reduced byte data representation files(40), or both, in serial order to provide a viewable reduced byte datarepresentation (46) of change in the at least one particlecharacteristic (4) of said plurality of analyzed particles (5). The areduced byte data representation file selection element (43) can furtherinclude a time period selection element (47) which allows selection of atime bound portion of the first or the second plurality of reduced bytedata representation files (39)(40) generated between a first time pointand a second time point of the viewable data representation (28).

The image generator (45) of the third computer (42) can further includea viewing rate selector (48) which can function to allow variablyadjusted selection of a viewing rate at which to view the viewablereduced byte data representation (46) of change in the at least oneparticle characteristic (4) of said plurality of analyzed particles (5).As to certain embodiments of the image generator (45) the viewing rateselector (48) allows variably adjustable selection of an acceleratedrate at which the viewable reduced byte data representation (46) ofchange in said at least one particle characteristic of said plurality ofparticles (5) analyzed can be serially displayed on a third computermonitor (49). As to certain embodiments of the image generator (45) theviewing rate selector (48) allows variably adjustable selection of adecelerated rate at which the viewable reduced byte data representation(46) of change in said at least one particle characteristic of saidplurality of analyzed particles can be serially displayed on the thirdcomputer monitor (49).

Now referring primarily to FIG. 1, certain embodiments of the inventiveflow cytometer remote monitoring system (1) can further include a localarea network (50) (“LAN”) at a first location (51) which includes localarea network logical connections (53) between the flow cytometer (2) andthe first computer (16) (or a plurality of flow cytometers (2) eachcoupled to a corresponding plurality of first computers (16)) and thesecond computer (37). These logical connections (53) can be achieved bya local area network communication device (54) coupled to or a part ofthe first computer (16) or the second computer (37) or both. As tocertain embodiments of the invention there can be a plurality of localarea networks (50) each established at a plurality of discrete locations(51A).

Again referring primarily to FIG. 1, certain embodiments of theinventive flow cytometer remote monitoring system (1) can furtherinclude a wide area network (52) (“WAN”) such as the Internet whichincludes wide area network logical connections (55) which allowscommunication between the third computer (42) established at a secondlocation (56) discrete from the local area network (50) at the firstlocation (51) or the plurality of first locations (51A) and the secondcomputer (37) of any local area network (50). This configuration allowsthe third computer (42) to retrieve from any second computer (42) anyone, a portion of, or all of the plurality of time bound datarepresentation files (35), the a plurality of bit map imagerepresentations (36), the first plurality of reduced byte datarepresentation files (39), or the second plurality of reduced byte datarepresentation files (40) from the second computer memory element (41)for display and viewing as above described without generating an amountof lag in analyzing the signal (3) from the at least one flow cytometer(2) by the first computer (16).

When included in a WAN (52), the second computer (37) and the thirdcomputer (42) can further include a wide area network communicationsdevice (56) such as a modem for establishing communications over the WAN(52) (such as the Internet (57)). The wide area network communicationsdevice (56) can be internal or external to the second computer (37) andthe third computer (42) and can be connected to the bus (19) via aserial port interface (24). In a WAN (52) environment, the secondcomputer memory element (41) can comprise a plurality of second computermemory elements (41) coupled to the second computer (37) via the WANwhich allows distributed retrievable storage of any one, a portion of,or all of the plurality of time bound data representation files (35),the a plurality of bit map image representations (36), the firstplurality of reduced byte data representation files (39), or the secondplurality of reduced byte data representation files (40). It can beappreciated that the LAN communication device (54), the WANcommunications device (56), the LAN logical connections (53), and theWAN logical connections (55) and shown and described are exemplary andother hardware means or logical connection means, and communicationmeans can be utilized for establishing a communications link between thesecond computer (16) and the third computer (42).

As but one non-limiting example of providing WAN connectivity betweenany second computer (37) and any third computer (42) for the purposesabove-described a pc-engines WRAP1E circuit boards can run ValemountNetworks StarOS router software on a 32 meg Compact Flash (CF) memorycard to provide a Virtual Distribution System (VDS) tunnel (similar to aVirtual Private Network or VPN) connected to a central router server andeach second computer (37) local area network connects as a client to themain central station server to manage all network routing and classbased queueing for the entire WAN.

While the computer means and the network means shown in FIGS. 1-6 can beutilized to practice the invention including the best mode, it is notintended that the description of the best mode of the invention or anypreferred embodiment of the invention be limiting with respect to theutilization of a wide variety of similar, different, or equivalentcomputer means or network means to practice embodiments of the inventionwhich include without limitation hand-held devices, such as personaldigital assistants or camera/cell phone, multiprocessor systems,microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, network PCs,minicomputers, mainframe computers, PLCs, or the like, in variouspermutations and combinations.

Now referring primarily to FIGS. 5 and 7, the second computer (37) canfurther include an image archive management module (60) which functionsto delete, modify, or otherwise reduce file size of the plurality oftime bound data representation files (35), the first plurality ofreduced byte data representation files (39), or the second plurality ofreduced byte data representation files (40) whether individually orcollectively to minimize the memory space in which image files areretrievably stored in the second computer memory element (41). Each oneof the plurality of time bound data representation files (35) can beconverted into a corresponding one of the first plurality of reducedbyte data representation files (39) and a corresponding one of thesecond plurality of reduced byte data representation files (40). Eachone of the second plurality of reduced byte data representation files(40) can be stored in the second computer memory (41) in the LAN (51)until requested by the third computer (42) and each one of the firstplurality of reduced byte data representation files (39) can also bestored in the second computer memory (41) until requested by the thirdcomputer (42) or until modified or deleted by function of a data storageminimization application (61) which governs image resolution priority(62) and further functions to govern image time value priority (63).

Now referring primarily to FIG. 7, which provides a graph which plotsimage resolution priority (62A) against image time value priority (63A)with respect to each one of the first plurality of reduced byte datarepresentation files (39) and each one of the second plurality ofreduced byte data representation files (40). As can be understood fromthe Figure, each of the first plurality of reduced byte datarepresentation files (39) can be correspondingly converted into a firstplurality of reduced resolution reduced byte data representation files(64) and each of the second plurality of reduced byte datarepresentation files (40) can be correspondingly converted into a secondplurality of reduced resolution reduced byte data representation file(65). Additionally, any one of the first plurality of reduced byte datarepresentation files (39), any one of the second plurality of reducedbyte data representation files (40), any one of the first plurality ofreduced resolution reduced byte data representation files (64), and anyone of the second plurality of reduced resolution reduced byte datarepresentation file (65) can reproduced at different times, and thenprogressively categorized as image time values (66, 67, and 68; 72, 73,and 74; 69, 70, and 71; and 75, 76, and 77 respectively) assigned lesserimage time value priority (63A) with elapsed time. In this case, imageswith greater image time value priority (63A) (for example 66, 72, 69,and 75) can be categorically more important than images with lesserimage time value priority (63A) (for example 68, 74, 71, and 77).Similarly, any one of the of the first plurality of reduced byte datarepresentation files (39), any one of the second plurality of reducedbyte data representation files (40), and any one of the categorieshaving lesser image value priority (63A) can be progressively rewrittenas images of lesser image resolution value priority (62A) and thenprogressively categorized as image resolution values (72, 75, 73, 76, 74and 77) assigned lesser image resolution value priority (62A) withdecreased resolution.

The number of image value categories (82) could be unlimited but willgenerally be less than one dozen. Generally, categories with lesserimage time value priority (63A) (for example 68, 74, 71, and 77) orlesser image resolution value priority (62A), or both lesser image timevalue priority (63A) and lesser image resolution value priority (63A)(for example 74 or 77) can be stored on low cost WAN file server(80)(see FIG. 2 for example) while files of greater image time value(for example 66, 72, 69, and 75), can be stored in the second computermemory element (41) of a dedicated LAN file server (78) or generalpurpose LAN file server (79) (see FIG. 2 for example). Simultaneousdeletion and rewriting of image files can occur by function of the datastorage minimization application (61) to produce the image valuecategories (82).

As can be easily understood from the foregoing, the basic concepts ofthe inventive flow cytometer remote monitoring system (1) may beembodied in a variety of ways. As such, the particular embodiments orelements of the invention disclosed by the description or shown in thefigures or tables accompanying this application are not intended to belimiting, but rather exemplary of the numerous and varied embodimentsgenerically encompassed by the invention or equivalents encompassed withrespect to any particular element thereof. In addition, the specificdescription of a single embodiment or element of the invention may notexplicitly describe all embodiments or elements possible; manyalternatives are implicitly disclosed by the description and figures.

It should be understood that each element of an apparatus or each stepof a method may be described by an apparatus term or method term. Suchterms can be substituted where desired to make explicit the implicitlybroad coverage to which this invention is entitled. As but one example,it should be understood that all steps of a method may be disclosed asan action, a means for taking that action, or as an element which causesthat action. Similarly, each element of an apparatus may be disclosed asthe physical element or the action which that physical elementfacilitates. As but one example, the disclosure of a “monitor” should beunderstood to encompass disclosure of the act of “monitoring”—whetherexplicitly discussed or not—and, conversely, were there effectivelydisclosure of the act of “monitoring”, such a disclosure should beunderstood to encompass disclosure of a “monitor” and even a “means formonitoring.” Such alternative terms for each element or step are to beunderstood to be explicitly included in the description.

In addition, as to each term used it should be understood that unlessits utilization in this application is inconsistent with suchinterpretation, common dictionary definitions should be understood toincluded in the description for each term as contained in the RandomHouse Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, second edition, each definitionhereby incorporated by reference.

Thus, the applicant(s) should be understood to claim at least: i) eachof the remote monitoring device herein disclosed and described, ii) therelated methods disclosed and described, iii) similar, equivalent, andeven implicit variations of each of these devices and methods, iv) thosealternative embodiments which accomplish each of the functions shown,disclosed, or described, v) those alternative designs and methods whichaccomplish each of the functions shown as are implicit to accomplishthat which is disclosed and described, vi) each feature, component, andstep shown as separate and independent inventions, vii) the applicationsenhanced by the various systems or components disclosed, viii) theresulting products produced by such systems or components, ix) methodsand apparatuses substantially as described hereinbefore and withreference to any of the accompanying examples, x) the variouscombinations and permutations of each of the previous elementsdisclosed.

The background section of this patent application provides a statementof the field of endeavor to which the invention pertains. This sectionmay also incorporate or contain paraphrasing of certain United Statespatents, patent applications, publications, or subject matter of theclaimed invention useful in relating information, problems, or concernsabout the state of technology to which the invention is drawn toward. Itis not intended that any United States patent, patent application,publication, statement or other information cited or incorporated hereinbe interpreted, construed or deemed to be admitted as prior art withrespect to the invention.

The claims set forth in this specification, if any, are herebyincorporated by reference as part of this description of the invention,and the applicant expressly reserves the right to use all of or aportion of such incorporated content of such claims as additionaldescription to support any of or all of the claims or any element orcomponent thereof, and the applicant further expressly reserves theright to move any portion of or all of the incorporated content of suchclaims or any element or component thereof from the description into theclaims or vice-versa as necessary to define the matter for whichprotection is sought by this application or by any subsequentapplication or continuation, division, or continuation-in-partapplication thereof, or to obtain any benefit of, reduction in feespursuant to, or to comply with the patent laws, rules, or regulations ofany country or treaty, and such content incorporated by reference shallsurvive during the entire pendency of this application including anysubsequent continuation, division, or continuation-in-part applicationthereof or any reissue or extension thereon.

The claims set forth below are intended to describe the metes and boundsof a limited number of the preferred embodiments of the invention andare not to be construed as the broadest embodiment of the invention or acomplete listing of embodiments of the invention that may be claimed.The applicant does not waive any right to develop further claims basedupon the description set forth above as a part of any continuation,division, or continuation-in-part, or similar application.

We claim:
 1. A method of remotely monitoring a flow cytometercomprising: a) operating a flow cytometer in a manner which produces asignal that varies based upon change in occurrence in at least oneparticle characteristic in a plurality of analyzed particles; b)executing instructions stored in a memory element of a first computerthat convert said signal into a viewable data representation of changein occurrence of said at least one particle characteristic in saidplurality of analyzed particles; c) generating with an imagerepresentation generator in said first computer a plurality of timebound data representation files of said viewable data representation ofchange in occurrence of said at least one particle characteristic ofsaid plurality of analyzed particles and serving said plurality of timebound data representation files to a second computer in serial orderwithout generating an amount of lag; d) generating a first plurality ofreduced byte data representation files through the execution ofinstructions stored in a memory element of the second computer, thefirst plurality of reduced byte data representation files correspondingto the served plurality of time bound data representation files; e)generating a second plurality of reduced byte data representation fileseach one having fewer bytes than the corresponding one of said firstplurality of reduced byte data representation files through theexecution of instructions stored in a memory element of the secondcomputer; f) serving with said second computer a requested portion ofsaid second plurality of reduced byte data representation files to athird computer; and g) displaying each one of said portion of saidsecond plurality of reduced byte data representation files in serialorder with said third computer to provide a viewable reduced byte datarepresentation of change in occurrence of said at least one particlecharacteristic of said plurality of analyzed particles.
 2. A method ofremotely monitoring a flow cytometer as described in claim 1, whereinsaid step of serving said plurality of time bound data representationfiles to a second computer in serial order without generating an amountof lag comprises the step of serving with said first computer in serialorder a plurality of time bound data representation files of saidviewable data representation of change in occurrence of said at leastone particle characteristic of said plurality of analyzed particles to asecond computer to reduce or avoid an amount of lag in analyzing saidsignal from said at least one flow cytometer.
 3. A method of remotelymonitoring a flow cytometer as described in claim 1, wherein said stepof operating a flow cytometer in a manner which produces a signal thatvaries based upon change in occurrence of at least one particlecharacteristic of a plurality of analyzed particles comprises the stepof producing a signal from said flow cytometer which varies based uponan amount deoxyribonucleic acid contained in each of said plurality ofanalyzed particles.
 4. A method of remotely monitoring a flow cytometeras described in claim 3, wherein said step of operating a flow cytometerin a manner which produces a signal that varies based upon an amountdeoxyribonucleic acid contained in each of a plurality of analyzedparticles comprises the step of producing a signal which varies basedupon the presence or absence of an X chromosome or a Y chromosome ineach of said plurality of sperm cells.
 5. A method of remotelymonitoring a flow cytometer as described in claim 4, wherein saidviewable data representation comprises at least a histogram which variesbased on occurrence within said plurality of analyzed particles of Xchromosome bearing particles or Y chromosome bearing particles.
 6. Amethod of remotely monitoring a flow cytometer as described in claim 1,wherein said plurality of time bound data representation files of saidviewable data representation of change in occurrence of said at leastone particle characteristic of said plurality of analyzed particlescomprise a plurality of bit map image representations of said of saidviewable data representation of change in occurrence of said at leastone particle characteristic of said plurality of analyzed particles. 7.A method of remotely monitoring a flow cytometer as described in claim6, wherein each of said plurality of bit map representations comprisesan image file of between about three megabytes and about six megabytes.8. A method of remotely monitoring a flow cytometer as described inclaim 1, wherein said first plurality of reduced byte datarepresentation files comprise a first plurality of image files eachbetween about one hundred kilobytes and about two hundred kilobytes. 9.A method of remotely monitoring a flow cytometer as described in claim8, wherein said second plurality of reduced byte data representationfiles each one having fewer bytes than the corresponding one of saidfirst plurality of reduced byte data representation files comprises asecond plurality of image files each between about two kilobytes andabout four kilobytes.
 10. A method of remotely monitoring a flowcytometer as described in claim 9, wherein said step of serving withsaid second computer a requested portion of said second plurality ofreduced byte data representation files to a third computer comprises thestep of serving said second plurality of reduced byte datarepresentation files over a wide area network to a third computer.
 11. Amethod of remotely monitoring a flow cytometer as described in claim 10,wherein said step of displaying each one of said portion of said secondplurality of reduced byte data representation files in serial order withsaid third computer further comprises the step of selecting a rate atwhich to view said viewable reduced byte data representation of changein occurrence of said at least one particle characteristic of saidplurality of analyzed particles.
 12. A method of remotely monitoring aflow cytometer as described in claim 11, further comprising the step ofdisplaying each one of said portion of said second plurality of reducedbyte data representation files in serial order with said third computerto provide an accelerated or decelerated viewable reduced byte datarepresentation of change in said at least one particle characteristic ofsaid plurality of analyzed particles.
 13. A method of remotelymonitoring a flow cytometer as described in claim 11, further comprisingthe step of selecting said portion of said second plurality of reducedbyte data representation files to display with said third computer. 14.A method of remotely monitoring a flow cytometer as described in claim13, wherein said step of selecting said portion of said second pluralityof reduced byte data representation files to display with said thirdcomputer further comprises the step of selecting a time bound portion ofsaid second plurality of reduced byte data representation filesgenerated between a first time point and a second time point of saidviewable data representation.
 15. A method of remotely monitoring a flowcytometer as described in claim 1, further comprising the step ofestablishing at a first location having a first local area network saidsecond computer connected to a plurality of said first computer eachcorrespondingly coupled to one of a plurality of said flow cytometersaid second computer further providing a memory element which allowsretrievable storage of said first plurality of reduced byte datarepresentation files and said second plurality of reduced byte datarepresentation files corresponding to said plurality of time bound datarepresentation files served by each one of said plurality of said firstcomputer.
 16. A method of remotely monitoring a flow cytometer asdescribed in claim 15, further comprising the step of establishing at aplurality of locations a corresponding plurality of local area networkseach of which comprise said second computer connected to said pluralityof said first computer each correspondingly coupled to one of saidplurality of said flow cytometer said second computer further providinga memory element which allows retrievable storage of said firstplurality of reduced byte data representation files and said secondplurality of reduced byte data representation files corresponding tosaid plurality of time bound data representation files served by eachone of said plurality of said first computer.
 17. A method of remotelymonitoring a flow cytometer as described in claim 16, the step ofproviding a wide area network which includes said plurality of localarea networks at said plurality of locations, said first local areanetwork including said third computer.
 18. A method of remotelymonitoring a flow cytometer as described in claim 17, further comprisingthe step of selectably retrieving over said wide area network a portionof said second plurality of reduced byte data representation filescorresponding to said plurality of time bound data representation filesserved by one of said plurality of first computers of said first localarea network or of a second of said plurality of local area networks.19. A method of remotely monitoring a flow cytometer as described inclaim 18, wherein said step of displaying each one of said portion ofsaid second plurality of reduced byte data representation files inserial order with said third computer to provide a viewable reduced bytedata representation of change in occurrence of said at least oneparticle characteristic of said plurality of analyzed particlescomprises the step of simultaneously displaying each selectablyretrieved said portion of said second plurality of reduced byte datarepresentation files corresponding to said plurality of time bound datarepresentation files served by one of said plurality of first computersof said second of said plurality of local area networks.
 20. A remotelymonitored network of flow cytometers, comprising: a) a plurality of flowcytometers, each operable to produce a signal that varies based onchange in occurrence of at least one particle characteristic in aplurality of analyzed particles; b) a plurality of first computerscoupled to said plurality of flow cytometers, wherein said plurality offirst computers each comprise executable instructions stored in a firstcomputer memory element that when executed convert said signals producedby said plurality of flow cytometers into a plurality of time bound datarepresentation files; c) a second computer linked to said plurality offirst computers for receiving time bound data representation files fromeach of the first computers, wherein the second computer comprises animage processor for producing reduced byte data representation files anda second computer memory element for storing the reduced byte datarepresentation files; and d) a third computer in communication with thesecond computer, the third computer comprising a selection element forgenerating a request for reduced byte data representation files from thesecond computer or for selected portions of said reduced byte datarepresentation files.
 21. The remotely monitored network of flowcytometers as described in claim 20, wherein said signal from said flowcytometer varies based upon an amount deoxyribonucleic acid contained ineach of said plurality of analyzed particles.
 22. The remotely monitorednetwork of flow cytometers as described in claim 21, wherein said signalvaries based upon the presence or absence of an X chromosome or a Ychromosome in each of a plurality of sperm cells.
 23. The remotelymonitored network of flow cytometers as described in claim 22, whereinsaid a plurality of time bound data representation files comprisesviewable data representation including at least a histogram which variesbased on a occurrence within said plurality of analyzed particles of Xchromosome bearing particles or Y chromosome bearing particles.
 24. Theremotely monitored network of flow cytometers as described in claim 20,wherein said plurality of time bound data representation files comprisesa plurality of bit map image representations of said change inoccurrence of said at least one particle characteristic of saidplurality of analyzed particles.
 25. The remotely monitored network offlow cytometers as described in claim 24, wherein each of said pluralityof bit map representations comprises an image file of between aboutthree megabytes and about six megabytes.
 26. The remotely monitorednetwork of flow cytometers as described in claim 25, wherein a firstplurality of reduced byte data representation files generated at saidsecond computer comprise a first plurality of image files each betweenabout one hundred kilobytes and about two hundred kilobytes.
 27. Theremotely monitored network of flow cytometers as described in claim 26,wherein a second plurality of reduced byte data representation filesgenerated at said second computer each have fewer bytes than thecorresponding one of said first plurality of reduced byte datarepresentation files comprises a second plurality of image files eachbetween about two kilobytes and about four kilobytes.
 28. The remotelymonitored network of flow cytometers as described in claim 20, furthercomprising a wide area network over which the third computer generates arequest for a selected portion of said reduced byte data representationfiles from said second computer.
 29. The remotely monitored network offlow cytometers as described in claim 28, wherein said third computerfurther comprises a viewing rate selector coupled to said imagegenerator which allows selection of a rate at which to view said reducedbyte data representation files.
 30. The remotely monitored network offlow cytometers as described in claim 20, wherein said first computerlinks to said second computer in a local area network.
 31. The remotelymonitored network of flow cytometers as described in claim 30, whereinsaid plurality of first computers are each correspondingly coupled toone of a plurality of flow cytometers through a local area network. 32.The remotely monitored network of flow cytometers as described in claim31, wherein said third computer links to said local area network over awide area network.
 33. The remotely monitored network of flow cytometersas described in claim 32, wherein said wide area network comprises theInternet.
 34. The remotely monitored network of flow cytometers asdescribed in claim 20, wherein the reduced byte data representationfiles viewable parametric data elements generated from the firstcomputer.
 35. The remotely monitored network of flow cytometers asdescribed in claim 34, wherein the viewable parametric data elementscomprise one or more of the following: sample number, operatoridentification number, date, drop delay status, temperature status,humidity status, laser power status, network status, particle analysisstart time, particle analysis stop time, time elapsed, event rate, totalevents, particle count, percent particles collected, percent particlesaborted, percent particles coincident.
 36. The remotely monitorednetwork of flow cytometers as described in claim 34, wherein theanalyzed particles comprise sperm cells and wherein the viewableparametric data elements comprise one or more of the following: currentpercent live, average percent live, current percent dead, averagepercent dead, current percent purity, average percent purity, andpercent compare sorter peer.